Humphrey, a loggerhead sea turtle, has become the first of his species to be released back into the ocean at the New Jersey shore.

The 12-year-old sea creature returned home Tuesday morning in Point Pleasant Beach. Jenkinson's Aquarium staff, the Point Pleasant Rescue Dive team and Mayor Stephen Reid were all on hand for Humphrey’s release.

“When I heard there (were no turtles released into the ocean) in New Jersey and the closest one was Boston and one in North Carolina, I thought one was necessary and needed here,” Essex County Executive Joseph Divincenzo said.

Humphrey washed ashore on Christmas Eve in Virginia and was found to have hypothermia. He was treated with injectable antibiotics at Sea Turtle Recovery, a non-profit group located inside Essex County's Turtle Back Zoo. 

Sea Turtle Recovery has rehabilitated and released 10 endangered sea turtles into warm southern waters since opening last December, but this time, the temperature and conditions were right for their first New Jersey release. 

Humphrey returned to the ocean waters without any hesitation, as hundreds who had gathered on the beach watched.

“This is the first one. I know that they have another one ready to go, but he's not ready to go just yet -maybe late September, early October. So we're very excited about this here,” Reid said.